They help the Eastlake man appreciate just how far he has progressed in his quest for health and overall wellness.

The Internet salesman for Classic Chevrolet in Mentor has lost about 70 pounds since August, and no longer needs medication for hypertension. It's the kind of triumphant weight-loss story that makes everyone feel good, but he gives much of the credit to an unusual source -- his employer.

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Classic Auto Group President and owner Jim Brown offered Lloyd and a few other workers the chance to attend Cleveland Clinic's Lifestyle 180, a six-week, 48-hour program designed to reverse chronic diseases through the modification of one's habits, including eating, exercising and even breathing methods. The experience was initially daunting for him, but now proves to be the impetus behind his feeling like a new man.

"I'm erasing many, many years of bad habits," said Lloyd, who has given up on greasy foods and soda.

"I've had a weight issue for most of my life, but I learned more in that six weeks than ever."

Dietitians, exercise physiologists and yoga instructors are members of the team of wellness experts that helps participants rid themselves of high cholesterol, obesity and a dependence on expensive medicines. Lloyd participated in one of two fall pilot programs at the Clinic's wellness campus in Lyndhurst. Classes have since advanced from that stage and now include 47 attendees split into four different sessions.

"This is a great opportunity for local corporations because we can help to reduce their health care costs, which is obviously important," said Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati, Lifestyle 180's medical director. "We can help get their employees off medication, we can help them feel better so there's less absenteeism, and we can help them perform better."

Including upcoming sessions, Brown has signed up about 30 Classic employees for the program, Ricanati said. Parker Hannifin Corp. of Mayfield Heights also sponsors a Lifestyle 180 group.

Program components include:

A nutrition and cooking portion, where participants take a trip to a grocery store to learn how to properly read food labels and make healthy choices. A professional chef instructs the group to make tasty but wholesome dishes like Chicken Salad Veronique.

Group workouts led by exercise physiologists from the Clinic that include cardio work and the use of dumbbells and resistance bands.

Stress management techniques like meditation and deep breathing taught by a behavioral medicine specialist, and rejuvenation yoga led by a certified instructor.

Lloyd said the most intriguing part of the course was the nutrition education he received, along with kitchen skills. That's not just music to Ricanati's ears, but also reaffirmation that Lifestyle 180's explanatory methods are working.

"The nice thing about the program is that it explains the 'why,' " Ricanati said. "I'm sure somebody has told you to eat vegetables, but they didn't take the next step.

"This program shows you how to do it," she said. "They're not only told to eat more fruits and vegetables, they're actually in the kitchen learning how to prepare meals."

While Lifestyle, along with other initiatives like the Clinic's Tobacco Cessation program, was introduced as part of the hospital system's mission to shift attention from sick care to wellness promotion, Ricanati believes it can also help abate the burden health care costs place on individuals and businesses in Northeast Ohio. The lifestyle changes also can prevent the need for some care in the first place.

"We're spending 16 percent of our (gross domestic product) on health care, and that's projected to be more than 20 percent in the next few years," Ricanati said. "That's not sustainable for us in our country or in Ohio. This is just one way to address the cost of health care."

For Brown, that was a big part of his decision to make use of the program. Ricanati said participation costs about $1,500 per person. For that price, each individual receives the six-week course, five follow-up sessions during the next year and gifts like a yoga mat and reusable canvas shopping bag. Ricanati said it's too early to say exactly how much business owners could save.

"A bypass operation costs $60,000," Brown said. "If you can save one person from getting a bypass, you've saved a lot of money. These people will teach you how to reverse, and it's sort of like a second chance at life."

Lloyd agrees, though he'd still like to drop another 40 pounds from his physique. However, he's gotten rid of his acid reflux, is taking more vitamins, and most importantly appreciates the program for helping provide his family with a better example to follow.

"It's made me feel like I've accomplished a lot," he said. "I'm not saying I'm the picture of health now, but I feel a lot more confident.

"To know that (Classic) wants to make a conscious effort to improve the quality of life for the people who work for them, I thought was very cool."